title: Comparison of Blue-Yellow Opponent Color Contrast Sensitivity Function between Female Badminton Players and Non-athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the chromatic contrast sensitivity function (CSF) for the blue-yellow opponent channel (BYOC) between female badminton players and non-athlete controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 40 young females (18-25 years old) who played badminton for at least 5 consecutive years as the test group, and 30 age-matched female controls who had no history of regular physical activity. The Pattern Generator™ system was used to test the CSF for the BYOC which was performed at three spatial frequencies (SFs) of 2 cycles per degree (cpd), 5 cpd, and 25 cpd.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of BYOC thresholds showed significantly better results in the test group for all three SFs (P<0.001). Band pass shift (better CSF in the middle SF) was seen in the test group. The control group had low pass (better CSF in the low SF). Ocular motility (heterophoria, fusional convergence and divergence at far and near distances, and near point of convergence) was better in the test group, but the inter-group difference was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BYOC threshold results for badminton players indicated a better visual performance which may be a result of enhanced performance of the parallel processing of the parvocellular and magnocellular systems. This may be inherent and/or acquired in badminton players. In addition, badminton players appear to have developed sensory-motor programmed activities. Testing the CSF for BYOC may be useful for athlete selection in different levels and/or used as a criterion for screening players in the field of badminton.
authors.affiliation: Optometry Department, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran ; Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jafarzadehpur
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirzajani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musavian
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abbasi
keywords: Athletes; Badminton; Contrast Sensitivity; Sports; Vision